Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10642 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-09-04
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Box set, Anamorphic, Widescreen, PAL, Subtitled
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 6
• Running time: 872 minutes

Amazon.co,uk Review
Created and produced by Shaun Cassidy (yes, the former teen idol who also produced American Gothic), Invasion starts in a flurry with a devastating hurricane threatening a Florida city and a 21st-century family happens to be in the middle of it. There's park ranger Russell Groves (Eddie Cibrian) and his wife, Larkin (Lisa Sheridan), who's an inquisitive television reporter. Living with them is Larkin's no-account brother, Dave (Tyler Labine), who blogs about conspiracy theories and aliens while between jobs. Also living with them some of the time are Russell's kids, Rose (Ariel Gade) and Jesse (Evan Peters), who also spend time with their mother, doctor Mariel Underlay (Kari Matchett), who has also remarried, to the town's sinister sheriff, Tom (William Fichtner). Tom also has a child from a previous marriage, sexy teen Kira (Alexis Dziena).

Amid the chaos of the hurricane, little Rose is the only one to notice a group of strange lights dropping from the sky into the water, then Mariel disappears only to turn up in a swamp the next morning, seemingly unharmed but now with a strange affinity for water. Not so lucky is Dave, whose investigation of Rose's colored lights leads to the discovery that those lights have a pretty fierce set of teeth. And what does the sheriff have to hide? Parts of Invasion feel like The X-Files or 24, and obviously the central concept isn't new, but it has enough revelations and spooky chills to keep the viewer coming back for more. Unfortunately, even all that wasn't enough to keep Invasion from being canceled after its first season. The problem is that the season--and the series--ends in a whopping cliffhanger, which may never be resolved. So before you invest yourself into a full season of Invasion, be warned. --David Horiuchi

Synopsis
This ABC show quickly established itself as an intriguing sci-fi thriller with a unique twist. Set in Florida, the show begins with a terrifying storm threatening the inhabitants of a small town. After the weather passes, U.S. Park Ranger Russell Varon (Eddie Cibrian) tries to pick up the pieces, but also gets some startling revelations from his daughter who believes that she has seen some mysterious lights hovering by the water as the storm raged. At first, no one pays her any attention. But then the post-storm events take some very strange turns, and Veron is forced to listen to his daughter and to begin investigating some of the eerie occurrences that beset the town. Similar in feel to the various INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS movies, INVASION is packed full of mystery and suspense. The entire first season is collected here.

Customer Reviews

Invasion: Aquatic Bodysnatchers and Government Coverups
When I first saw the trailers for this series I was pretty excited - something new it seemed, something long running, and something out of the ordinary. Well, I'm not so sure. Being an X-Files fan for long running conspiracy sagas and a dyed in the wool Sci-Fi geek, Invasion should have offered me everything I wanted. Unfortunately it didn't deliver right away and with the networks being so focussed on instant success in the ratings it didn't get the opportunity to deliver before being cancelled.

The story is basically that of an isolated Florida town being infiltrated and taken over by invading life forms during a major storm. The season develops the theme into a government conspiracy type tale along with last decent man teaming up with reformed bad guy with a conscience to fight the invaders. The season started a little more slowly in terms of the overall plotline than was desired, but the first few episodes were exciting from an action and effects point of view. The central plot is old and has been used before - another reviewer cites "V" which is to a limited extent a fair analogy. Personally I'd say that it has more in common with "Invasion of the Bodysnatchers". That having been said, this implementation of the old story was relatively fresh and interesting.

The performances from the main actors (Will Fichter and Eddie Cibrian) were impressive and I think underrated and undervalued by the network executives. The supporting cast were to an individual believable and consistent - there's nothing worse than a great central character being supported by a bunch of woodentops, but in the case of Invasion there were certainly no problems with that.

I enjoyed the series and was disappointed at its cancellation. Given the speed of plot development I am not surprised that it didn't make the cut for a new season. I am surprised though that some weaker programmes were renewed. Perhaps the rating system is not as effective as it could have been. In any case, see it for yourself and make up your own mind - at least on DVD you can watch a few episodes at a time and avoid the week long wait for the next show, and with the whole season in one package, there's no waiting at all.

Cancelled.....whaddya mean cancelled?!?!
I had already ordered Invasion by the time a friend told me they'd seen it and though it was rubbish. Then I heard it had been cancelled and I thought `great....what a waste of money....it's bound to be rubbish if they cancelled it'. Boy am I glad I'd already ordered it as Invasion was fantastic.

The story starts with a hurricane approaching the Everglades. When the hurricane hits strange lights are seen falling into the water. As you'd expect with a hurricane there are lots of missing people the morning after.....but they soon start turning up....naked and near the water.

What I loved about invasion was the fact that although it's a sci-fi show there wasn't any of the clichéd gory aliens coming out of the water and body snatching in the usual sense. The story was done so well that it actually seems plausible. The hybrids didn't exhibit any obviously alien traits and that made it more believable also. The characters in this show were all fantastic. I can't pick one out that was better than the other....they were all just that good.

I have to say I am absolutely astounded that this show as cancelled as it had so many directions that it could have went. And I'm devastated that I'll never know what happened next. ABC get a grip and bring Invasion back!!! It's been a long time since I've seen a decent show on tv and for them to cancel it after just one season is sacrilege!

Excellent drama, very engaging.
Production of the show was terminated after this first season. Even so if you like open endings and using your imagination the dvd release will keep you hooked until the end. The invasion centres on a small community in the everglades when in the aftermath of a tropical storm, some of the residents begin to differ from the others. As the series progresses the division between the former close knit community creeps eerily into prejudice and violence, with only a handful of people struggling to keep it all together. One of whom is the prototype invader who has to balance his alliegance between family and alien masterplan. I found that with each episode the intensity,atmosphere and sometimes downright creepiness made Invasion the best show of it's genre that i've ever seen.
The tv networks only pay attention to political involvement,ready cash and the viewing figures (in that order) so this show ceased to be at the swipe of an executives ballpoint. Don't let him make your mind up for you.